APC led-government has in various ways shown it is anti-masses -Anike

Charles Anike is the president of Eastern Union a pro-Igbo political pressure group. In this interview he speaks on many national issues including the performance of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led Federal Government, the 2019 election and need for continuous voter education on violence free election. PATRICK OKOHUE had a chat with him.

Do you think the Federal Government was right to have delayed the minimum wage for this long?

That is another insensitive action by the present administration, the delay further portrays the government as being very insensitive and unconcerned about the workers welfare. And this is a government whose national chairman was once president of the Nigeria Labour Congress. A man who was then ready to pull down the government and ground the whole country in pretext of fighting for the workers welfare. But now that he and his party are in power he is shamelessly showing his true colour. The APC government has in various ways shown that it is anti-masses by its policies.

Considering the likely impact it is bound to have on the economy particularly on inflation, do you think it is right to increase the minimum wage at this time?

Are we not having inflation now? They should approve it, because we are already having inflation. Think of how much was our Naira to a Dollar when the N18,000 minimum wage was approved and the rate now. Bear in mind that the Dollar exchange rate influences our market more than our local currency. Please whether inflation or not, the Federal Government should approve the new minimum wage, let the Nigerian workers be happy, even if it is for one day.

During the All Progressive Congress (APC) flag off campaign in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, President Muhammadu Buhari made categorical statement that he had delivered as he promised on economy, security and corruption, what can you say on this?

Well there is no way President Buhari will tell you that he has failed, more especially now that he is seeking re-election. But you and I know that he has failed, pressed down, shaking together and running over. His failure in every aspect of governance has become very scandalous. In the area of the economy, remind him that it is during his time that Nigeria became the poverty capital of the world. This is a country that was said to have the fastest growing economy in Africa and also producing the Africa richest man, in the person of Alhaji Aliko Dangote. In the area of security, the Boko Haram and Fulani Killer men became more daring under Buhari; as his actions has indirectly empowered the insurgents. And with respect to the much talked about war against corruption, the Buhari government has only succeeded in harassing perceived enemies while making the APC a nest for looters and vultures.

But despite the outcry recently of some state governors, namely Borno, Zamfara, Kastina and some other states over security, they have continued to insist that they have done well in curtailing insecurity, you don’t agree to with claim?

Well these are some of the hypocrisies in the APC. Because of their too many lies, nobody knows when they are saying the truth, and that is very dangerous. The truth is that the present administration has turned everything into politics, even serious issues like security, many states in the country are facing serious security challenges, especially in the North and yet we have not heard even operation this or that, what are those crying governors doing with the security votes they are collecting every month anyway?

Soon after the President called on Nigerians to tighten their belt against expected economic hardship this year, even the Central Bank of Nigeria added their voice to the same call, what is your take on this?

Well the only thing we can say is that “man proposes but God disposes”. I can assure you that God will never allow our situation to go worse than this. And I believe that most Nigerians have learnt their lessons though in a bitter way. President Buhari has every reason to say what he said and also think the way he thinks. That statement from President Buhari, shows how helpless and hopeless the government have become and yet, the same man is talking of retaining power, so that famine he predicted will come to pass, God forbid.

As campaigns are gathering momentum the political parties do not seem to be making definite promises on the economy, do you see this as a failure on the part of the political class?

Of course, the political class has failed woefully since they cannot harness the abundant human and material resources for overall interest. It is very shameful that Nigeria especially under the present regime has become the poverty seat of power, not just in Africa but of the whole world. And this is a country some few years ago that was adjudged to be amongst fastest grow economy in African. You see, it seems everybody knows the problem but nobody seems to have solution. This is why we fell into this gimmick of Change. But I believe that with Atiku/Obi presidency, we will get it right this time and get Nigeria working again.

Notable international organisations, the National Democratic Institute and others have warned that there are likely to be post election violence in some states, how do you think we can avoid this?

The only way to avoid violence during and after elections in the country is for every well meaning citizen to get involved in the preaching of peace and continuous education of our youth.
This preaching of peace will be more effective if parents and religious organisations get actively involved. More so the politicians should know that trying to manipulate the will of the people must always result to serious controversies. The rate of arms buildup across the country is of serious concern, therefore the security agents should rise up and be at red alert. Finally on this, we advise that our political gladiators should develop the spirit of sportsmanship and should not take any election as do or die. Let them understand that all power belongs to God almighty.

How will you access 2018 in the democratic process of the nation?

The political processes of Nigeria have gone backward drastically. One would have expected the present government to take a cue from the Jonathan administration, especially in the areas of human rights, peaceful conduct of elections, developments etc. Then we had a situation where a sitting president will quickly congratulate a winner of election from another party; and even conceded in 2015 presidential election. But we have now is situation where human rights are grossly abused, the constitution and court orders are undermined at will. Also vote buying at polling centres are done openly and security agents are used to harass and intimidate people in opposition. All these and many more have greatly dragged the Nigeria democracy backward.

The President has defended the continued retention of the Service Chiefs despite that theya fre due for retirement and also they are perceived not to have done well in securing the country, contrary to public opinion, what do you think are the likely implications?

One of the worst things that can happen to a nation is when the security agents get directly involved in its politics.
Under the present APC led Federal Government, our security have been seriously dragged into the politics more than ever before. This is the reason many Nigerian have lost confidence in the security agents. And this is why the citizens are beginning not to take their statements serious and that is very dangerous, because of their noble and strategic importance. The retention of the Service Chiefs is uncalled for and also unnecessary. Nigeria is so blessed with intelligent officers in every profession that we don’t need to extend anybody’s tenure once expired. Once you extend anybody’s tenure for any reason you would have directly truncated another’s upward movement. We must learn to allow people to come in with new ideas.

From the look of things the President may not be involved in all the political campaigns of his party in the country; do you see this as a healthy political development?

Well that will be very strange and that is why we say that in APC, wonders shall never end. I think all these are indications and confirmation that this President is tired and need to go home to rest. One thing you must bear in mind is that even if you succeed in deceiving the people, you can not cheat nature. This man is not only old, he is also very sick, so why can’t those cabals rooting for him give up for the interest of the country. This is another reason we always talk about mentorship, because if President Buhari have mentored anybody, it would have been easy for him to bring up such a person at a time like this. Now you can see him avoiding the press and avoiding the same people he wants their votes. And even his few outing this time are always with discouraging news and scandalous outcomes.
Please let this old man go back home to take care of his health, we acknowledge his efforts so far.

What do you think will make any party win the next general elections?

Well years back, it is the party’s manifesto and programme that helps it to win election, but in this present time, it is how much you have and willing to throw around that make you to win. The APC government has introduced another dimension to vote buying and thuggry since it took over power. Now you can see that parties are not spending much on campaign, they rather wait for the day of election with their cash at hand. You have also seen that our President have carefully avoided the presidential debate and other of such platforms where he is expected to interact with the people. So obviously winning may be based on who have more and more money or who have more capacity to rig.

Twenty years after how will you rate the Nigerian political space?

So far so good, the Fourth Republic is gradually moving to higher level of political development. It has been so great an experience, even though we have seen many challenges in the process, but I can’t tell you that we are making considerable progress. There is no system or society without its own peculiar challenges and if we continue without any breach, we shall perfect the system to match that of other developed nations of the world. Just imagine if Gen. Buhari and his men didn’t truncate the Second Republic? By now Nigeria democracy would have been measuring with that other developed nations of the World.

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Buhari will tell you that he has failed, more especially now that he is seeking re-election. But you and I know that he has failed, pressed down, shaking together and running over. His failure in every aspect of governance has become very scandalous. In the area of the economy, remind him that it is during his time that Nigeria became the poverty capital of the world. A country that was said to have the fastest growing economy in Africa